Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Hey. It's Wednesday. 10 Things

1. I'm sitting in a Barnes and Noble in Mesa, Arizona and just met the coolest lady in history. Her name is Donna Powers and she's the CRM here. Pretty sure no one has ever made me feel so welcome and important in such a short period of time. Thanks, Donna. You rock, and I won't forget.

Plus, she bought me a strawberry frappuchino, the single greatest drink on planet Earth. B&N paid for it. Yeah, that's right. Free swag.

2. A good friend from growing up told me his daughter asked him the other day if I was going to be on Dancing with the Stars on TV. This made me laugh for at least one full minute. Her name is Riley and she's da bomb.

3. The schools in Arizona have been a lot of fun. I was really nervous about having a full jammed week of 5 straight days with so many schools, but it's been great. And I haven't had to resort to the word "poop" yet to make them laugh, which is good. And we certainly have come no where near the desperate levels of "fart." Those two are always my back up plan, even though the teachers hate those words. (I have made several references to kids smelling like gorillas and cars running over old ladies, but that's pretty standard fare.)

4. I still can't believe I'm going on a pre-publicity tour soon for (as my sister says, fuh-reaking) Random House to places like Chicago and New York. Every morning I wake up sure that it's just a dream.

5. Watched THE DARK KNIGHT again last night. Amazing. No wonder Christopher Nolan (co-writer and director) is in my acknowledgements for Book 2. Heath Ledger, we miss you.

6. If you haven't been keeping up on the creation of the Dashnog language in the comments, you're missing out big time. And I think we may have the first person in the history of computers not to let a silly thing like a broken space bar on a keyboard keep her from commenting.

7. The sequel to MAZE is now 31,204 words. I can't remember if I told you guys what the working title for it is. Well, it's this: THE SCORCH TRIALS.

8. THE HUNT FOR DARK INFINITY really should be showing up extremely soon in stores nationwide. Still not sure why the distribution hit some snags, and I'm very, very sorry. But based on early numbers and feedback, your patience will pay off.

9. In the Deseret Bookstore chain of 50 or so stores, I was the 8th bestselling item for last week. Not bad!

10. The first appearance in the history of the world where you can buy a book called THE MAZE RUNNER showed up on the Internet. It's the library edition of the audio version of all things, and I'm not sure it has all the details right, but I thought it was interesting: CLICK HERE.

11. If you live in Arizona, I'll be doing signings the next 3 nights in a row. For the schedule, hop on over to www.the13threality.com. Come see me!

12. Wait, there were only supposed to be ten things. Now there are twelve.

13. Doh!

48 comments:

The Scarlet Tart said...

I'm the first! Yay!

Congrats, Dash! I'll have to give that strawberry frap a try. Keep up the good work in Arizona.

Dark Knight is the raddest movie ever. Glad we agree on that point. (No more spats about LOTR, deal?)

And just because I love her to death, and I want everyone to know, my good friend, Deb, who comments here from time to time won the short story contest at LTUE!!!! Yay, Deb! You rock!!!!!!!!

James Dashner said...

Hey, that's awesome! Congrats Deb!!!! I insist you give us a victory speech.

Anna said...

The Dark Knight is incredible. I hope they make a third one....i bet they will. If they do they'll make a ton of money.

Luisa Perkins said...

Please give me your NY dates pronto so I can get them on my calendar. My kids will kill me if I don't bring them to meet you.

Fantastic news all around!

Kelly M said...

Hey, are you at the B&N at Dana Point, just south of the freeway? If so, you are literally minutes away from my house. Seriously. If I didn't have napping kids we'd come say hello. :) Do you have dinner plans?

Are you really at the Mesa Deseret Book both today and tomorrow? That's what the website says. I hope so, because we can't make it tonight, but can tomorrow. See ya then!

ps- you are here at the perfect time- are you loving the weather? How about the oragne blossoms? I love AZ springs!

James Dashner said...

Hi Kelly! Yes, actually, Dana Point. I might be able to do dinner tomorrow, but not today.

And yes, the schedule is right. They split it into two signings.

Amen on that, Anna. They better make another one.

Luisa, put the week of October 13th on your schedule. It'll be sometime then. The prepub tour in May doesn't include public events I don't think. But we'll see.

Anonymous said...

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...........................I Got My Spacebar to work!!!!!....I don’t like on your post #1.......but I loved number 6.... I ran the whole time in gym today it wasn’t that hard though…we had a 100 point 10min.running test (you couldn’t stop to tie a shoe, get a drink etc)…..my word is evalit it means passion usage: Dashner gave an evalit to read to others…….I’m having issues to remember to hit the space bar between words now…..someone needs to create a blog for all these words…..we need to hang out sometime…..tiki tiki

Deb said...

James, I can't believe you are still on tour. But it sounds like things are going well. Next school stops will have to be an elementary school out in Reno and one in Eagle Mountain.

Dashnog word is Debduckl(no really, that is my word). It means having awesome friends who congratulate you when you get good news :)

Anonymous said...

my word is reducker no lie I have a snapshot....

Wil S. said...

James, next time they send you 'round Houston, Texas, please tell me, because I have been babbling incoherently since I missed your visit around the time of hurricane Ike.

Dashnog:
Conclos- conclusion, to conclude, concluded, and all other forms of that word.
Usage: The meeting was conclos.

Wil S. said...

Oppingl- an idea
Usage- An oppingl suddenly occurred to him

Unknown said...

Hey James,
I just saw the new 13th Reality on the hot new releases list on Amazon. My son got it for his birthday on Sunday, and loved it. His exact words, "James Dashner rocks!!" Hope you get to NH on that fall tour. :)

Anonymous said...

Though it's been said (countless times) The Dark Knight does rock. On so many levels I could write a post about it. Oh wait. I have. 3 times! Yeah...obsessive much. But I love the characterization and depth of that movie. I've yet to find a way to describe how deeply it moves me. Christopher Nolan, Bravo. Bravo. *Clappity-clap*

Glad you're rockin' the scene in AZ and I'm thrilled for the pre-pub tour! NY alone would blow my mind. And ever since Jim Butcher's Dresden files, I'm dying to see Chicago. Just not any flaming monkey...stuff.

The Scorch Trials, huh? I love the word "Scorch." Fiery, painful, encompassing--all in one. And 31 frickin' thousand words? Do you ever sleep?

Congrats, Deb! How wonderful! I'm sure I speak on behalf of everyone when we say, "Way to go!!!"

Q said...

Yay for everything!

The Scarlet Tart said...

There you go, Debbie. You're famous! :)

travingl-the peak of something difficult.

After reaching the travingl of my life, I realized I was the most powerful person in the world!

The Scarlet Tart said...

Awesome!

ingesset-the highest social level.

The ingesset look down on slovenly behavior.

Brian said...

The Scorch Trials.... That sounds awesome! I can't wait. I just got Dark Infinity today.

Doh? Is this a Homer Simpson moment?

The Scarlet Tart said...

I think you could totally pull off a forum.

Diva Donna said...

Fandela--Dashnog for the fuzzy headed feeling you get after meetin & greetin so many fans in one day.
Useage: Dashner's fandela lasted throughout the evening as he watched a movie after a long day of entertaining the gnomes.

Go Dashner! Go Deb! and viva la Dashnog!!!!

I am carefully tracking all the new words and will give dashner an official lexicon in April...and I am such a dashnog 'chalsion' that I have already started using it in my conversations...lucky for me there are 2 good 'debducks' who also speak dashnog or I might be labeled a 'pungr' and that would be totally lame.

The Scarlet Tart said...

Yeah, totally.

The Scarlet Tart said...

litirbun-a cousin of maspo. :)

Anna said...

Oh yeah...I forgot to say how awesome The Scorch Trials sounded! Any hints on what it's about? The Scorch Trials. You lucky beast! This proves that there's a hint (if not a whole world) of genius in you, Dashner....only somebody that had genius in them could come up with a title like that.

Taffy said...

I am reading Dark Infinity and really enjoying it! And I am OOOLLLLLDDDD... :)

And when are you coming to Central Elem in Pleasant Grove UT??

J.N. Future Author said...

yay for SCORCH TRIALS! ^.^ you have such creative names! Like the 3rd books name ^.^ (for both 13th and Maze)

but the MAZE RUNNER will forever be the name that captured my heart!

Dashnog: Eress. like meaning beautiful sky! Looking up at the Eress heavens above ^.~

Do you really take the time to read all our comments? Dude, when ever I talk to you I feel so important! That is why you are totally my #1 favorite author ever!

Deb said...

LexiconLuvr, thanks for your congrats. I actually looked at your blog and think you sound like a very awesome person! And you love the Dark Knight... enough said.

Donna, I can't wait to get my copy of the official Dashnog dictionary.

My Dashnog is nearly a real word: Foreekin (For-ee-kin). Definition is a word of emphasis. Donna is "for-ee-kin" awesome for her work on the Dashnog.

James Dashner said...

Glad you guys like THE SCORCH TRIALS. I love coming up with titles.

Unknown said...

I hate that you are at a Barnes & Noble in Arizona and it's not mine. =( I'm going to come visit you tomorrow (Thursday), I think. When do you leave? Are we going to get to do lunch or something? =(

Tristi Pinkston said...

I would totally love to see you on Dancing with the Stars! I would even sign up for cable again to make that happen.

Angie said...

You are in some MAJOR trouble...you know what I mean!!!!

The Scarlet Tart said...

talitzpw ( tal ITS puh) def. I told you so.

LouMac said...

Love Maze's title. The Scorch Trails. It sounds very interesting. I am fortunate to own one of your 13th Reality books! My older brother surprised me with it the other day! Isn't he da bomb? He is sooo sweet!

I'll have to try a strawberry frappuchino. (Never heard of them)

Anyways, congrats on being #8 Mr. Dashner. Soon you'll work your way up to #1!

Heather Justesen said...

James, congrats on all of the great things going on right now. The pre-pub tour sounds cool. And I really wish I loved picking out titles. I would rather write a 200,000-word manuscript than come up with a four-word title.

Anonymous said...

Deb-- Thank you very much. *Blush* I'm so flattered. I tried to check out your blog too but alas, I am unable.

Sorry to take up your comment space there, Dash-man but it was for a good cause.

But, on a note to you, are you getting psyched for Storymakers? I'm a mixture of elation and desperation. It's too late to recall that chapter now...*gulp*

Karen Pellett said...

Hey did you hit any schools like Helen Keller Elementary or Taylor Junior High. Hope so...they're my old stomping grounds.

Have a blast in Mesa and if you get free time checkout Golfland/Sunsplash (if its still there - man am I old).

Anonymous said...

Loumac cant be your numberonefan if she doesnt even own all your books ...I am and shall always be your numberonefan..... mwhahahaha
.....sorry ....word banglies means agrees with usage:I banglies you ...square roots in the pythagorean uses profs equal nonbanglies ...tiki tiki

Anonymous said...

omg I just reilize I know Angie....lol

James Dashner said...

Angie, it's just a figure of speech! You know you'll always be my favorite B&N employee. You supported me back in the Jimmy Fincher days. I mean, come on!

And you wouldn't have had to ask which drink I wanted. :-)

LouMac, it's TRIALS not TRAILS. Just to clarify.

Yes, Lex, I'm totally pumped for Storymakers. It's my favorite conference.

Karen, no, not those schools. Sorry!

Heather, for titles, it helps to do a long list of anything goes and then stuff starts jumping out at you.

#1 and LouMac smackdown! Uh oh. No, it's okay for some of you to be TIED for #1. Right?

Unknown said...

WHOA. *I'M* NOT YOUR FAVORITE B&N EMPLOYEE? It's going to be a smack down.

Anonymous said...

I guess as long as you acknowledge that only us three are your only numberonefans...word acked means evil homework usage Dashners numberonefan had acked......... you shall always be my favorite author even if you claim im not your numberonefan.......tiki tiki

James Dashner said...

Kirsten, Kirsten, Kirsten. Angie has 6 years of pushing the Dashner under her belt. From back when I was a true nobody of an author.

She can be your benchmark.

Unknown said...

Whateverrrr, James. Pick your favorites, I don't care. Pfffftttt....

Angie said...

Kirsten...just a little friendly competition! You did a great job and James recognizing you is really great. I didn't mean it to come across meanly.

James, I know where you live and write. Just remember that!

Angie said...

And James...it's almosst EIGHT years!

Anonymous said...

word sweleri (its in green letters)
def. green veggies that keep us healthy
usage: I ate sweleri

Unknown said...

Lol, Angie, I'm totally joking! He announced to a line full of people last night (ok, just the kid he was talking to and his dad) that I'm a psycho. Hahaha. I've been told he meant it in the best way.

I have no problem bequeathing my self-given title of "Best B&N Employee Dashner Fan" unto you. Having promoted The Maze Runner is pretty impressive! I've only been with the company for 2 years, haha.

Anonymous said...

You should come to Michigan on your tour!
This is Shae Lorenc's daughter.

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Very cool. Just be sure to tell us if you come out to Kansas City!

Anonymous said...

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